EMBARGO 4/3 @ 9AM ET – 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid First Drive: The One You’ve Been Waiting For

Buying a Subaru is associated with many stereotypes, compromises, and benefits. Typically, some of those compromises have been a trade-off for buyers, and ones most are happy to make. That includes getting slightly worse fuel economy than some competitors in exchange for a mechanical, full-time all-wheel drive system, and the benefits thereof. Subaru has sometimes been criticized for poor power output and noisy CVT automatic transmissions, yet most owners don’t seem to care, perhaps thanks to the simplicity of it all. Now, there’s a Subaru Forester that fixes many of these issues without introducing a new set of compromises.

The addition of a simple hybrid system to the automaker’s long-running SUV has resulted in a whole new world. Two electric motors incorporated into the transmission and a battery in the trunk are all it takes. The Forester Hybrid increases power output over the base model (194 horsepower up from 180), makes the full-time all-wheel drive system a much more efficient one (35 MPG in a Subaru!), and deadens noise from the powertrain further. It all looks good on paper, and I was flown out to San Francisco to find out if it adds up from the driver’s seat.

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid First Impressions

Looking at it, it’s tough to know the car above is a hybrid. There’s no alternatively colored badges or accouterments that immediately scream “Look! A HYBRID!!” at you. A simple hybrid badge at the rear is about all you get. Subaru says its customers like it that way, and the vehicle as a whole is very difficult to differentiate from the latest Forester sans electric motors. This Sport Hybrid model has bronze accents, but if those aren’t for you, a similar level of equipment can be found in the marginally more expensive Limited model without the accents. Looking at it, there’s also a lot of glass around the cockpit, which, in addition to enhancing visibility, removes some visual heft from the design. The Forester does look muscular, but the SUV also doesn’t give off any “big angry truck” vibes either. It’s a handsome if cautiously inoffensive design.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

The best compliment I can pay to the Forester Hybrid is that you usually don’t notice you’re driving one. Yes, there’s a little readout in the digital gauge cluster that shows how the hybrid system is balancing power output, brake regeneration to charge the battery, and the battery state of charge. It’s clear when the SUV is creeping around at low speed on the electric motors alone. But after a while, you forget. The system works pretty darn well, and unlike some hybrids I’ve driven, there isn’t this big moment where the motor turns on and you realize what’s happening. Subaru added significantly more sound-deadening material to the SUV’s transmission tunnel, and the car is largely hushed until you mat the throttle.

Subaru, unfortunately, doesn’t provide a torque figure for total system output. We’re left to guess, as the company asserts there isn’t a standardized method for calculating torque on a hybrid vehicle. It almost doesn’t matter, as the extra 14 horses and whatever additional torque is generated by the two hybrid motors help the Forester down the road in a big way. No, the Forester still isn’t a fast SUV, and it doesn’t need to be, but the hybrid SUV now feels zippier than ever, and it’s a welcome improvement. The Forester isn’t a driver’s car by any means, but I drove the SUV harder than almost any reasonable buyer would, and the brakes held up (despite getting a little smelly) and the car never felt out of control or sketchy, even on wet pavement.

Despite its all-season tires, the SUV is also capable of a strong performance beyond the pavement. Subaru put together a course where I sampled the SUV’s off-road dynamics, and while it’s clear there’s room for a Wilderness model at the top, the SUV still clears obstacles larger than you’d think and does so with relative ease — it has the same generous 8.7 inches of standard ground clearance as the ICE-only model. Combined with the new Forester’s improved performance and efficiency, the Hybrid model is the one to get.

Performance Specifications

Subaru Forester Hybrid Fuel Economy

The Forester Hybrid saw an observed 32 MPG combined according to our car’s trip computer. It’s worth noting this number is drastically lower than the EPA estimate for a few reasons: for one, a pair of lead-footed journalists rushing to lunch can hurt fuel economy. Subaru’s lengthy off-road course no doubt hurt fuel economy too. As a result of this long day of hard driving, and time spent idling for its photo op, it’s practically a certainty that Forester Hybrid owners will be much nearer to the EPA’s combined fuel economy estimates.

Interior Design And Comfort

The Forester Hybrid has a higher starting price than base models, largely owing to the level of standard equipment and the more expensive hybrid system. Notably, competitors like the RAV4 and CR-V Hybrid also cost several thousand dollars more than strictly gas-powered models owing to their hybrid systems as well. You’ll pay $36,415 (including destination) for the base Forester Premium Hybrid as compared to a gasoline-powered Forester Premium, which starts at $33,390. The lineup tops out at $43,115 for the Forester Touring Hybrid.

The trade-off here is that any trim level, including the Sport Hybrid trim I drove, feels well-equipped in addition to the new hybrid system. The car pictured above rang up at $39,415 with destination, and largely feels at that price point. Subaru’s Star-Tex faux leather is everywhere by customer demand. Owners like being able to wipe down the interior, and the material doesn’t feel cheap either. The colored accents and use of materials is nice as well.

I found the front seats comfortable across around 250 miles of driving, and they’re no different from those found in other Forester models. Subaru used much more sound-deadening around the transmission and firewall to help mute the hybrid system, and this model is noticeably quieter as a result. The CVT can still be noisy under hard driving, but it’s not as bad as purely gas-powered Foresters. There was some wind noise from the windows as well, but only at higher speeds. A few more sore spots emerged, including some shiny black plastics that immediately looked dirty and some cheap-feeling doors — the doors don’t go “whunk” when closed but emit a tinny clang. At this point, that sound is effectively tradition. Still, the Forester’s interior feels deserving of its price point, and nothing here is a dealbreaker.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Subaru did a lot to remedy the Forester’s traditional weak points — lackluster acceleration, worse-than-average fuel economy, and a noisy interior. But there’s no getting around the tech. Some point out that the automaker’s tablet-style screen is low-resolution and slow. In some ways that’s true, but I find the issue is responsiveness. The StarLink system can miss inputs or be slow to respond to them, and when you’re driving, you may not realize it. I attempted to turn on the brake hold function twice while driving through Santa Cruz only to find the system was still off as I crept forward at a light. Some may prefer a little more customization in the center cluster as well, though Subaru will now allow Apple Maps and Waze to be projected into the digital dash. In short, some more physical controls and better responsiveness from the screen could take the system from underwhelming to great.

Cargo And Storage Space

The front of the Forester has plenty of space for your things. A certain amount of debris orbits the cabin of a car during an event like this, where journalists are paired with one another, taking turns driving while evaluating the car. Sunglasses, empty water bottles, a lot ​​​​​​of coffee cups, and more than a few cameras and cables all have to go somewhere. All of it does in the Forester.

Rear-seat occupants don’t have anywhere near the array of door pockets and dash cubbies as front-seaters, but the cargo space is more than roomy enough thanks to the SUV’s boxy shape. The hybrid battery does not cut into trunk space, thankfully, and Subaru simply relocated the tire inflator that used to live under the floor to a cubby on the left side of the trunk. Despite higher-than-average ground clearance, the Forester’s load floor doesn’t feel too high either. Unlike the Crosstrek Hybrid of yore, there’s no compromise in cargo capacity to be made in exchange for the hybrid system’s benefits.

2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid Vs. Its Competitors

The 2025 Forester Hybrid still fills its old niche in the market, even comparing it to other hybrids. It offers mechanical all-wheel drive and competitive pricing in exchange for not always having the latest tech and the greatest fuel economy. Take, for instance, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Honda CR-V: while they both offer all-wheel drive, the Subaru is superior off-road. However, the Toyota and Honda are also slightly more fuel-efficient, and the RAV4 offers a full plug-in hybrid version (for admittedly quite a lot more money).

How The Forester Hybrid Compares To The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and Subaru Forester Hybrid are within shouting distance of each other in price, and the two trade blows depending on what data you look at. The RAV4 is more fuel efficient, but less capable. The Forester Sport Hybrid costs more than a comparable RAV4 XLE, but the interior is a nicer place to be. The RAV4 has better tech, but the rest feels older. Ultimately, one SUV will fit into your life better than the other, and it all comes down to which set of strengths and weaknesses works best. There’s not really a wrong answer here.

Performance

The single biggest difference, at least mechanically, between the Forester Hybrid and the RAV4 Hybrid is the lack of a physical connection between the front and rear wheels in the case of the RAV4. Subaru argues this gives the Forester the edge off-road, and in more extreme off-road driving situations, that may be the case. Truthfully, it also means the RAV4 gets better fuel economy, if only marginally so. Whether this is worth the trade-off is up to you.

Comfort

A similarly-priced RAV4 feels much older and less luxurious than the freshly redesigned Forester. XLE RAV4 Hybrids in particular feel outgunned, but expect this to change quickly. Toyota is on its way to introducing a new RAV4 that will remedy a lot of this. But that’s tomorrow, and this is today. The Forester has the edge thanks to its super comfy front seats and nicer materials.

Technology

Toyota has grafted its latest infotainment system into the aging RAV4, and it’s a world ahead of Subaru’s in terms of response. While some may or may not care for the delta in screen resolution and clarity between the two, it’s immediately clear that Toyota’s system is newer. The screens aside, the two are very close in terms of tech offered across various trims, and it’s tough to lose out on standard safety features in either.

How The Forester Hybrid Compares To The Honda CR-V Hybrid

The Honda CR-V Hybrid is also closely comparable to the Forester Hybrid in many ways. However, it wholly out-classes the SUV in fuel economy. If that’s your single objective, this contest is over. The Honda is also a comfortable SUV on par with the Forester, though the new Subaru may be just a hair quieter at highway speeds. It’s also a bit bigger than the Subaru and will haul more cargo. As is the case with the RAV4, the CR-V is not a competitor when it comes to off-road performance.

Performance

Like the RAV4 above, Honda is able to eke out better fuel economy than the Forester Hybrid because the rear wheels aren’t being mechanically driven by the engine up front. Again, this results in a trade-off. You’re getting better fuel economy, but the Forester Hybrid will do better off-road. The Honda also has a little more power than the Subaru, which is somewhat offset by the Forester’s marginally better towing capacity (1,500 pounds to 1,000 lbs.). Subaru knows its market, and those with more “active” lifestyles will almost certainly be getting more from the Forester.

Comfort

Honda’s interior ergonomics are second to none. The CR-V feels much like the Civic in and out, and that’s a good thing. The seats are extremely comfortable, and occupants in all rows won’t have trouble hunkering down for long journeys. The CR-V will carry more luggage, though, owing to its larger size. Honda’s hybrid is also quiet and composed on the road, and arguably more so than the Forester.

Technology

The CR-V’s smaller screen is much easier to use than the Forester’s big tablet-style one. It’s also a little more responsive, though the bigger screen in the Forester does mean more information makes it into your line of sight. There’s wireless connectivity for phone projection software like Carplay, but the tech is very much not a part of the experience. It’s much more out of the way than other competitors, and we kind of like it for that reason. There’s still a full suite of safety aids, but don’t expect to be dazzled.

Which Forester Hybrid You Should Buy

I got it right when we picked up the keys to our Forester Hybrid Sport in the midst of the California redwoods. It’s not needlessly expensive, at just under $40,000. The average transaction price of a new car is closer to around $50,000 right now. This feels like the sweet spot, blending the benefits of the new hybrid drivetrain with some modern car essentials: Subaru’s StarTex upholstery is included with Sport trims and up, as are safety features like rear automatic braking, as well as an upgraded Harman/Kardon sound system.

The Forester Hybrid isn’t a revelation, but it does fix a lot of the traditional weaknesses common elsewhere in the Subaru lineup. I’m looking forward to seeing if Subaru will continue to expand its hybrid offerings given this new set of benefits as a result of the small two-motor system. A little extra oomph and some improved fuel economy is exactly what a lot of Subaru’s non-performance lineup could use, and this seems like a very appetizing way to get it almost without compromise.